TNT Sports
Acquired taste for Cup
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Published 06/04/2004 at 15:16 GMT+1
Sweden beware. For once U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe isin't tearing his hair out trying to rustle up enough able bodies. McEnroe says he feels positively “blessed” by the number and quality of eager candidates for the quarter-final tie in Florid
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Lining up for the United States on the hardcourt in Delray Beach are the likes of Andy Roddick, James Blake, Mardy Fish, and the Bryan brothers.
It's not the greatest of all the American teams in the competition that goes back to 1900 -- at least not yet.
But it's an unusual time in that there are so many young American players who are not only able but willing to play Davis Cup for their country.
That hasn't always been the case in the post-1968 era of opens and serious cash.
Remember in past campaigns, the no-shows of Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Michael Chang.
Credit the captain, now with four years under his belt at the helm.
Roddick and Blake acquired a taste for the Davis Cup at a very young age when they weren't as experienced. Blooded young, the younger of the McEnroe brothers has obviously managed to maintain that hunger now that they're in full bloom.
CLEARING THE FIRST HURDLE
"We have the team to go all the way," says McEnroe, adding a cautionary, "but anything can happen in Davis Cup."
Having lost in the first round in Switerland in 2001 and Croatia last year, the captain knows the importance of passing that first round in a competition known for its high-voltage atmosphere and nationalistic pressures.
True it was against a lesser Austrian selection, but McEnroe was nonetheless relieved when Andy Roddick, Robby Ginepri and brothers Bob and Mike Bryan got through the first hurdle, winning 5-0.
That result was far from certain beforehand as Australia would tell you, the defending champions having learned their lesson - at home - in the first round against Sweden.
The underrated visitors stepped in and swang big to oust the Aussies, 4-1.
Now Jonas Bjorkman, Thomas Enqvist and Robin Soderling are in Florida with again nothing to lose.
Bjorkman, coming off a good run in Miami where he lost to Roddick in three sets, is in great shape and the most experienced of all having just celebrated his 32nd birthday.
As for former top five player Enqvist, on a good day nobody can beat him so once again, the Americans have to be on their guard.
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